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The Rams play the Laval Rouge et Or in the Mitchell Bowl Saturday for a spot in the 2024 Vanier Cup.
Programs in nine communities across Saskatchewan got some good news this week as they learned they’d be getting some money from the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The CFL team announced Wednesday it’ll be giving $277,000 to communities or organizations to help with various types of projects through the Grey Cup Festival Legacy Grant Program.
Those projects include helping construct outdoor classrooms at a school, repairing sports and recreation facilities, and other projects to help promote healthy lifestyles.
“It’s extremely important when you host a festival like the Grey Cup,” Roughriders president and CEO Craig Reynolds said Wednesday while announcing the recipients.
“One of the first things that comes to mind is you have the opportunity to host the festival and give back. It’s important for us to give back as a community-owned team. All four corners of the province are receiving some funding — nine different communities, nine different projects — so (it’s) extremely important for us to give back.”
The Roughriders played host to the 2022 Grey Cup Festival.
The communities or programs receiving money are:
mâmawêyatitân centre in Regina: For the development of a “land-based learning” space consisting of native prairie grasses and plants, traditional indigenous medicinal plants, where being outdoors together naturally extends the meaning of mâmawêyatitân.
Battlefords & Area Sexual Assault Centre: To support the School Based Prevention Education program focusing on promoting a strong sense of self and healthy communities.
Sturgeon Lake First Nation: To support the community’s skating rink asphalt project, allowing for all-season outdoor recreational activities and increase utilization both during school and after school.
City of Prince Albert: To support the further development of a youth baseball facility in the community.
Prairie Harm Reduction in Saskatoon: To support a new, youth-led legacy of safer and healthier communities by providing youth with access to hands-on mentorship, services, and culturally appropriate support.
Kawacatoose First Nation: To support the Kawacatoose outdoor rink revitalization, creating opportunities for recreation and play, spaces for leisure and recreation programs, a venue for amateur sport, facilities for personal and group fitness, and secure spaces for safe programs for children and youth.
Broncs Parents Association/Town of Indian Head: To support the town and the next phase of the McCall Field improvement project, which will create space to accommodate track and field, outdoor education, cross-country running, community soccer, and football.
Northern Lights School Division #113: To support the division’s work in a large geographical area of the province and assist in providing the Mental Health First Aid First Nations training to the staff.
First Nations University of Canada Indigenous Continuing Education Centre: To support a scholarship program for students currently studying in the areas of Health Sciences at the First Nations University of Canada.
In total, more than 200 applications were submitted from around the province for projects.
Reynolds says the Roughriders’ main focus when deciding what projects should get the money was if the project could benefit youth in the community.
“They all needed to be focused in on either mental wellness projects, healthy lifestyle and youth,” he explained. “We were really focused on getting money back into youth-based causes and projects and I think if you look at all nine projects they all have a strong youth focus.”
The Riders also gave out $338,000 to amateur sport and Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation programming, along with $150,000 in total funding to six Saskatchewan communities in 2022 through the Richardson Pioneer Rider Nation Community Celebration.